Effect of secretin on lower esophageal sphincter pressure in patients with esophageal achalasia

Abstract

The effect of a bolus intravenous administration of secretin (2.0 U/kg) on resting lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) was investigated in seven patients with esophageal achalasia. Basal LESP before secretin injection in the patients was 60.1 +/- 3.4 mmHg (Mean +/- SEM), which was significantly higher than 26.9 +/- 2.5 mmHg in normal controls consisting of eight healthy volunteers. LESP significantly decreased within 1 min after the injection both in the patients and the controls. The maximum pressure change from each basal LESP was 31.2 +/- 5.2 mmHg in the patients, which was significantly greater than 12.1 +/- 1.8 mmHg in the controls. The effect of secretin disappeared within 5 min in the controls. The effect in the patients, however, lasted throughout the investigation time of 30 min. It is concluded that secretin has a long-acting effect on muscular relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in esophageal achalsia patients.

Secretin: A Pleiotrophic Hormone

“…Cohen et al reported that secretin inhibits the rise in lower esophageal sphincter pressure (LESP) induced by gastrin during feeding while having little effect on resting sphincter pressure 26 . Miyata et al reported that secretin has a long‐acting effect on muscular relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter in esophageal achalsia patients 27 . In addition, it has also been shown that HCl instillation into the duodenum produces an initial fall in the LESP with a corresponding rise in plasma secretin level 28 .…”